Friday, September 04, 2009

US poetry greats to reach Arabic audience

US poetry greats to reach Arabic audience By Alison Flood on BooksNew Arabic anthology from Abu Dhabi-based project, Kalima, to include poems from 15 US poets, including Anne Sexton, Charles Bukowski and Sylvia Plath - The cream of modern American poetry, from Sylvia Plath to Charles Simic, is to be translated into Arabic as part of a project to widen the Arabic world's access to foreign literature. Fifteen American poets, also including Charles Bukowski, Robert Bly, Anne Sexton, Ted Kooser and Langston Hughes, have been selected by the Abu Dhabi-based project, Kalima – "word" in Arabic – to be included in a new Arabic anthology. "There is a real shortage of American poetry translated into Arabic, which is why we decided to do this," said a spokesperson for the project.

Amazon opposes Google's plan for world's biggest online library By Bobbie Johnson on TechnologyInternet retailer calls Google's deal to digitise books 'dangerous' as momentum builds for opposition movement. The movement opposing Google's $125m deal for the rights to digitise millions of books has gained even more momentum, after Amazon called the agreement "dangerous". The internet retailer, which has its own project to scan in books, said in an American court filing that Google's deal with US publishers and authors represented a dangerous precedent that could damage innovation and hinder copyright law. "The proposed settlement usurps the role of Congress in legislating solutions to the complex issues raised by the interplay between new technologies and the nation's copyright laws," the company said in a 41-page document lodged with a US federal court in New York. The controversy surrounds the proposed settlement between Google and the Association of American Publishers and the Authors' Guild, the terms of which would see Google get the rights to digitise millions of books still under copyright in exchange for $125m and a share of the proceeds.

Genre: Contemporary fictionWhat it's about: Three young Muslim men, living a carefree life in Manhattan, experience suspicion, prejudice and incarceration after 9/11.Why it's noteworthy: A debut novel, it's an authentic and honest portrayal of what it's like to be a Muslim living in post-9/11 America.Memorable line: "In prison, I finally got it. I understood that just as three black men were gangbangers, and three Jews a conspiracy, three Muslims had become what would be known as a 'sleeper cell.' " Fall sleeper: 'Home Boy' is a slam-dunk for H.M. Naqvi

Investing in Law & Order – An Interview with Qasim Tareen By Kalsoom on SecurityIn the last several years, Pakistan has seen an increase in violence – ranging from suicide bombings to armed attacks. A frequent target of these attacks has been the country’s police force – in March, 13 people were killed and more than 100 were injured when gunmen attacked the Manawan police academy near Lahore. Just [...]